"CHURCHES"

From the History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa:&nbsp&nbspTelegraph Steam Printing House, 1877, pg. 61-65.

&nbsp&nbspThe Atlantic M. E. Church was organized in 1869, with Rev. William ABRAHAM as pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. W. F. LAIDLEY, and he by Rev. B. F. W. COZIER; Rev. F. H. READ was the presiding elder.&nbsp&nbspThe first quarterly meeting of which there is any record, was held December 10th and 11th, 1869, at which H. T. SHARP was approved as Sunday School Superintendent.&nbsp&nbspWilkins WARWICK , Dr. W. RICHARDS , Dr. George S. MONTGOMERY, H. T. SHARP, Isaac DICKERSON, A. C. THARP, and Frank EVERETT were approved Trustees.&nbsp&nbspWilkins WARWICK, J. H. NEEDLES, and H.T. SHARP were elected Stewards.&nbsp&nbspH.T. SHARP, Recording Steward.&nbsp&nbspThe present house was built in 1870, and enlarged in 1875.&nbsp&nbspThe church owns a good of parsonage which was built in 1871, costing about $1,200.&nbsp&nbspThe church now has a membership of 175.

&nbsp&nbspThe Atlantic Congregational Church was organized in April 1869.&nbsp&nbspAmong its earliest members were G. W. NORTON & wife, R. D. McGEEHON and wife, Seldon McGEEHON, Clement TUTTLE and wife, George CONRAD, H. G. SMITH and wife, E. O. HOYT, Julian PHELPS and wife, E. S. HILL, and others from time to time.&nbsp&nbspIt numbers at present eighty communicants.&nbsp&nbspThere have been but five deaths among its members.&nbsp&nbspThere has never been a case of discipline, and no members have been dismissed except to unite with churches out of town.&nbsp&nbspG. W. SMITH and H. G. SMITH were its first deacons, the former still holding office, assisted by H. H. HAWKS and L. C. SANBORN.&nbsp&nbspIts house of worship was dedicated August 22d, 1869.&nbsp&nbspThis building has recently been enlarged and refitted.&nbsp&nbspPresent dimensions, 32 x 64 feet; cost to date, about $4,500.&nbsp&nbspIt is located on the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets.&nbsp&nbspRev. E. S. HILL has been pastor of the church from its organization to the present time.&nbsp&nbspIts Sunday School was organized at the time its building was first occupied.&nbsp&nbspE. G. CHAPMAN is the present Superintendent.&nbsp&nbspThe Church is out of debt.

&nbsp&nbspThe Presbyterian Church of Atlantic was organized on Sabbath, October 10th, 1869, by Rev. Sheldon JACKSON, Superintendent for Western and Central Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota, Montana, Utah, and Colorado, and Rev. B. PHILLIPS, of Wisconsin.&nbsp&nbspTheodore CUSHING, and J. H. SMITH were elected, ordained and installed ruling elders.&nbsp&nbspThe organization was effected in a little one-story frame school house which stood then on the north-west corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets.

&nbsp&nbspThe first regular pulpit supply was Rev. Melancthon HUGHES, who commenced preaching to this church on the first Sabbath of December, 1869.&nbsp&nbspThe present church edifice was completed and dedicated during the following year, 1870.&nbsp&nbspMr. HUGHES continued his labors here until April, 1873, when he was compelled by infirm health to seek a milder climate.&nbsp&nbspHe went at once to Santa Fe, New Mexico, but died there Nov. 18th of the same year.&nbsp&nbspRev. William G. KEPHART began his labors in May, 1873, and remained until August this year, when he resigned and took editorial charge of the Newton, ( Iowa ) Headlight.

&nbsp&nbspThe present membership is 85.&nbsp&nbspThe following named persons constitute the present Board of Elders, their names being given in the order of their election:&nbsp&nbspTheodore CUSHING, B. F. CADY, Dr. D. FINDLEY and William T. CUSHING.

&nbsp&nbspThe United Presbyterian congregation of Atlantic was organized by R. T. McCREA on the 22nd of October , 1875, with 18 members.&nbsp&nbspElders, A.S. MONCRIEF, and Silas WILSON.&nbsp&nbspTrustees, S. C. STONE and William F. WOOD.&nbsp&nbspMembership 18.

&nbsp&nbspThe Baptist society of Atlantic was organized in the Spring of 1869, by Rev. W. F. CHILDS, of Oskaloosa, and consisted of the following:&nbsp&nbspPerry DISBROW, wife and daughter, now Mrs. MORROW; Simon SMITH and wife, Mrs. H.J. CAVENAUGH, Mrs. J. S. BARNETT, Mrs. Fanny LEA, J. C. LIVINGSTON.&nbsp&nbspMr. DISBROW was first deacon, and Mr. LIVINGSTON the first clerk.&nbsp&nbspThe first pastor was Rev. B.F.BRAISTED
who preached for the church in 1871 and until 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. STOTT, who remained three years.&nbsp&nbspThe present pastor is Rev. A. J. DeLANO.&nbsp&nbspThe present church house was built in 1873 at a cost of about $3,500.&nbsp&nbspThere are about 93 members at present.
&nbsp&nbspTwenty-three members recently withdrew for the purpose of establishing a church at Wiota.&nbsp&nbspThe officers at the present time are Deacons, Perry DISBROW, Samuel HARLAN and B. GORHAM; Clerk, W. B. JORDAN.

&nbsp&nbspThe Catholic church of Atlantic was built in 1871, under direction of Vicar General BRAZIL , of Des Moines.&nbsp&nbspThe house cost about $2,500.&nbsp&nbspThe Rev. Father E. GAULE is the present paster.&nbsp&nbspServices are held once in four weeks, and the house is full at each meeting.

&nbsp&nbspThe Anita Congregational Church was organized April 12th, 1870, with fifteen members.&nbsp&nbspI. A. McKINLEY, W. PETERS, and R. W. CALKINS were prime movers.&nbsp&nbspRev. Chauncey D. WRIGHT gathered the church.&nbsp&nbspRev. E.S. HILL also aided.&nbsp&nbspThe first deacons were I. A. McKINLEY and William PETERS.&nbsp&nbspRev. C. D. WRIGHT, Rev. C. S. IRWIN, and A. A. WHITMORE have been the ministers, the latter being the present pastor.&nbsp&nbspPresent numbers of members, 34.&nbsp&nbspThe building of the church began in August, 1875.&nbsp&nbspIt will cost $4,000 and will soon be completed.

&nbsp&nbspA church was built in Anita in the year 1870, by general contribution, F. H. WHITNEY, of Atlantic, being one of the main donors.&nbsp&nbspThe house was built for no particular denomination , but was used by any minister whose services could be secured, no matter what was his particular creed.&nbsp&nbspThis church was also used as a school house until the building of a new houses for school purposes in the fall of 1872.&nbsp&nbspThis, the pioneer church of Anita, is no longer used for sacred purposes, but is now made use of as a place of business.

&nbsp&nbspThe Highland Church (Methodist) north-west of Anita, was built during the summer of 1875, and dedicated in July.&nbsp&nbspThe ground was broken, and the house built and furnished through the exertions of Rev. G. M. COUFFER.&nbsp&nbspTrustees:&nbsp&nbspHenry McDERMOT, R. M. JANSEN, Orson BROWN, B.F. SIMPSON, C. W. DEEDS.&nbsp&nbspPastor: Rev. G.M. COUFFER.&nbsp&nbspNumber of members now, 45.

&nbsp&nbspThe Baptist Church of Lewis was organized December 17th, 1859.&nbsp&nbspRev. William GOLDEN was the pastor.&nbsp&nbspThe following were the members and officers at the start:&nbsp&nbspPerry DISBROW, Clarrisa DISBROW, Samuel DISBROW, Anilla DISBROW, James W. BROWN, Hannah A. BROWN, James DYER, Sarah J. DYER, Sarah WELLS, Elizabeth CHAPMAN, Margaret Van RIPER, Jason THURSTON.&nbsp&nbspClerk, J. W. BROWN; Deacons, Perry DISBROW, and Rev. William F. ARNOLD.&nbsp&nbspThe church edifice was built in 1864.&nbsp&nbspThe present membership of the church is thirty-two.&nbsp&nbspThe society is at present without a pastor, but keeps a Sabbath school in successful operation with eighty attendants.

&nbsp&nbspThe Methodist church of Lewis was organized in 1855, and the house was built in 1856.&nbsp&nbspRev. J. S. RAND was the first pastor.

&nbsp&nbspSUMMARY-There are three church buildings in Lewis, namely:&nbsp&nbspone Baptist, one Congregational, and one Methodist.&nbsp&nbspThere are five in Atlantic, namely:&nbsp&nbspCongregational, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian.&nbsp&nbspIn Grove City the Methodists have a building; that denomination also has a church in Pymosa township, known as the Buck Creek church, and one in Benton township, known as the Highland M. E. Church.&nbsp&nbspIn Anita the Congregationalists have a fine building.&nbsp&nbspTotal church house in the county, eleven.
&nbsp&nbspThere are numerous religious societies in the county that have no houses of worship at present.